Conundrum

Part 26

@JessLainsley

Robin sighed as she stretched out on the couch, her day stretched on and she could not get rid of a headache. Chase had walked by a few times to see if she was alright, but she just pretended to be asleep as he tried to talk to her, his accent grating on her nerves every time he opened his mouth. Robin rolled over and stared at the area rug under the coffee table, her eyes drifting open and closed, but every time a sense of peace started to wash over her, flashes of red lips and a hauntingly familiar voice would cause her to jolt awake again, no rest to be had.

"Hey, Robin," Chase leaned over the couch to see if she was awake yet.

Robin rolled over and looked up at him, her eyes bloodshot and her expression sour, "What?"

"I figured you might have been hungry so I made some sandwiches for us, hope a normal ham and cheese is okay, we need Wisteria to grab some more stuff from the market next time she comes our way."

Chase walked around and Robin sat up and he sat next to her, handing her a paper plate with a sandwich on it.

"Thanks," Robin mumbled as she started to eat.

"Of course. We need to eat after all. Besides, you weren't getting much sleep so I figured food would be better."

"Wait, you knew I wasn't sleeping?"

"Well, duh? I am a trained agent and also the oldest of several siblings who hated bedtime, so yes, I can recognize when someone is actually asleep or not."

Robin rolled her eyes. "Good for you, I guess?"

Chase chuckled. "Well, anyway. What's keeping you awake? I think you actually passed out for a bit earlier, but it certainly didn't seem peaceful or worth it."

Robin sighed, her appetite diminishing with the thoughts of red stained lips in her head. "I honestly don't know. There's this... phantom? Is the best way to describe it. But there's this lady in my dreams, I don't know who she is, what she wants, or what she was to me, but there is something about her I can't trust. I hate her, but I don't know why. I hear her voice and it makes me feel nauseous. I see her smile and it makes my skin crawl. I don't know why it affects me so much, especially since I have no idea who or what she is, but it makes me uneasy. She plagues my mind and I can't get rid of her."

Chase stared at her. "That sounds terrifying, is it like a sleep paralysis demon situation? Oh wait, is this that thing that was haunting you from a few days ago? You remember more of that lady?"

"I guess so? I'm not really sure if it's the same person, but it probably is...."

"Well, if you can't fall asleep, let me know, I'm always down to stay up late and game or something," Chase offered her a smile and she returned a small one of her own.

...........

Lydia took a deep breath as she pushed open the door to the private library room. Dr. Abacus sat at the table, his gaze on a book that he shut as the door opens. She stepped in and closed the door.

"Hello, Professor," She offered a smile.

"Ah, Miss Lydia, my friend will be joining us shortly. She is quite skilled and I think the two of you could get along well. I think you could help her with a project she has been working on. Requires very little from you and you will still get paid quite well, if it works out."

Lydia gulped, "Nothing... dangerous, right?"

"Nope! Completely legitimate and easy," he smiled at her, but Lydia still felt a gnawing in her gut at the thought of whatever new job was being offered.

Lydia sat down at the table and Professor Abacus opened his book and went back to reading, the room filled with an almost awkward silence that was definitely more uncomfortable for Lydia than her boss. She messed with her backpack straps until the door opened again and a middle aged woman came in.

Her hair was a deep auburn that was pulled back into a tight bun. The woman's skin was pale with a light brush of freckles, but the most striking feature that Lydia caught was the bright red lipstick.

"Apologies for the delay, had a meeting with a family. Unfortunately, their son isn't doing well and their doctor wanted another opinion on a diagnosis, but I don't think he is going to make it, shame too, he's so young. Ah, you must be Miss Lydia? You can call me Beaker," the woman smiled and shook Lydia's hand with confidence.

Lydia sent her a half-hearted smile, "Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Beaker. I heard you had something for me to help with?"

Beaker lifted a brow and sent a look at Dr. Abacus, "I see you don't beat around the bush, which is good; I hate small talk. And yes, I do, it requires a delicate nature that I do not possess with what limited free time I have. How old are you, dear?"

She sat down next to Dr. Abacus and he sat there, still engrossed in his book, ignoring the two women in the room.

"I'm nineteen."

"Oh how wonderful. Listen, I have a daughter about your age, she's twenty-two, but unfortunately, we had a big fight and she ignores me now. But as her mother, I am very concerned for her welfare, so I need someone to keep tabs on her for me. Give me check-ins, give her a friend or two, she is so desperately lacking in those, I fear. She never was one to be open and welcoming to new and unfamiliar people, so it might take a few tries for her to reciprocate your efforts. What do you say? Will you help me?"

Lydia sat there for a second, that was it? Just... befriend a lonely daughter? That seemed... very tame to what she was used to. Dr. Abacus was right, it was legal and easy. This was a great way to slowly edge her way out of this weird business, a slow way out, a light at the end of the tunnel. A smile spread across Lydia's face.

"Yes! I love making new friends! What can I do to help?" her voice was back to its chipper tune.

Beaker smiled back, but it seemed unnaturally long and almost disturbing, "Oh I am so happy you agreed, dear. My darling has been alone with too many brutes around her. I can give you an address, but I will leave it up to you how you befriend her, I'm afraid she doesn't leave the house much these days and she lives with her... boyfriend, a rather shifty fellow. I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him, so be on the lookout in case he tries to lure you into trusting him like he did her. Oh, and her name is Robin, she is such a sweetie, tough exterior, but a total softie on the inside. I'll admit, I wasn't the best mother, but I did my best without a father figure in the picture for her... and of course, my job at the hospital as a doctor, I didn't give her the mother-daughter time that she needed. But if you would keep some tabs on her for me, basic things: is she eating, sleeping, finding friends... is she happy? Those are things mothers want to know about their children, no matter how far away they are from home."

Lydia felt a pang in her heart and she had the sudden urge to call her own mother to see how she was doing... even if they talked not too long ago, "Of course. I'll give you my number so we can communicate and stuff."

After a few minutes of exchanging contact information, Lydia left, feeling better than she had in a few days.

........

Dr. Abacus turned to Beaker and closed his book, "That was quite the sob story, my dear."

"Please, you have to cater to the masses... sad stories always evoke more emotion than happy ones. Sometimes you have to twist things a little."

"Hmph, well, glad you got it down. So, that boy you mentioned? Was he real?"

"Oh the one from the hospital? Yes, he is quite real. And I think he is my second chance at creating the most powerful person. If I can get him away from his family, I think I could get a good idea of what exactly I am working with and then try to tailor my craft to make him even better than even Robin could be."

"Well, sweetie, I wish you the best of luck. I am sure you got it this time," Dr. Abacus smiles before opening his book again.

"I have to... can't let another opportunity slip through my fingers. I won't let it happen again."

Beaker stands and brushes off her shirt, "I am expected back at work soon, lovely to see you again, Father."

"You as well, Cameera."